What is the recommended behavior for an airside vehicle operator when encountering wildlife?

The recommended behavior for an airside vehicle operator when encountering wildlife is to slow down and, if necessary, come to a complete stop, followed by reporting the sighting to the Airport Operations Control Centre (AOCC). This approach prioritizes safety for both the vehicle operator and the wildlife.

By slowing down or stopping, the operator minimizes the risk of a collision, which could have serious consequences for the animals involved as well as for the safety of airport operations. Reporting the sighting to the AOCC ensures that appropriate measures can be taken to manage wildlife on the airside, potentially including wildlife management teams that can safely relocate animals or implement other safety protocols to prevent future incidents. This collaborative effort is crucial in maintaining a safe environment at the airport.

The other approaches either increase risk or neglect the responsibility to maintain safety in the airside environment. For instance, speeding up could lead to a dangerous encounter, while ignoring the wildlife can result in accidents, and using a loud horn could provoke stress or cause erratic behavior in the animals rather than safely removing them from the vicinity.